Pistol holster



July 7, 1959 j. R. COUPER PISTOL HOLSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1957 J y .1959 J. R. COUPER I 7 2,893,615

, PISTOL HOLSTER Filed May 25,- 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN A. C'OUPER United States Patent PISTOL HOLSTER John R. Couper, Westminster, Colo.

Application May 23, 1957, Serial No. 661,206

Claims. (Cl. 224-2) This invention relates to holsters and, more particularly, to quick-draw holsters incorporating a novel safety device.

Nearly all peace oflicers are required to carry pistols during the performance of their duties both for purposes of law enforcement and for self-protection. Although the use of these weapons is seldom necessary, the rare occasion sometimes arises when they have to be used. In such instances an oificer must be able to draw his revolver or automatic quickly, surely and safely. Thus the days when a person had to draw fast and shoot straight are still with us among the many law enforcement agencies and others empowered to protect persons and property, both public and private.

The prior art discloses many attempts to design a quick-draw holster especially suited for use by peace otficers and which is lightweight and foolproof and dependable; however, these devices have met with little commercial success, nor have they been adopted by those oflicials having need of them. Many of the known types of so-called quick-draw holsters are also complicated and so bulky that they cannot be effectively hidden beneath the clothing which is oftentimes essential.

Another problem occasionally faced by law-enforcement personnel is that of a person attempting to take an oflicers pistol in order to escape while being apprehended. With the conventional holster, escape attempts of this type are not uncommon and are sometimes successful, especially when the person is being detanied or examined for a relatively minor ofiense and the officer is lulled into a false sense of security.

A further problem is that of the safety of the piston or revolver in the holster. These weapons must, of necessity, be loaded while the ofiicer is on duty although the safety should be on. There is still a chance, however, that the safety can be dislodged in a scuffle or some other altercation and the gun discharged while within the holster causing a serious wound.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a quick-draw holster that is ideally suited for use by peace ofiicers.

A second object is the provision of a holster that is easily adapted for use with any of the conventional types, sizes and styles of pistols including both revolvers and automatics. a

A third object is to provide a holster incorporating a novel safety feature which prevents a pistol from being fired while therein even with the gun safety oft.

Another object is to provide a holster that is extremely lightweight and compact so that it can be carried underneath the clothing without detection.

Further objects are to provide a holster that is dependable, simple to construct and operate, inexpensive, decorative and one which does not damage the pistol.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawing that follows, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the revolver holster of the present invention with a revolver therein;

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the revolver being drawn from the holster;

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the automatic holster containing an automatic;

Figure 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 5; and,

Figure 8 is a side elevation similar to Figure 5 showing the automatic being drawn from the holster.

Referring now in particular to Figures 1 through 4 of the drawing, the holster of the present invention, indicated in a general way by numeral 10, will be seen to include a relatively stationary outer envelope or clip 12 within which is pivotally mounted a movable inner envelope or clip 14. The outer clip has a generally channel-shaped cross section which can be seen most clearly in Figure 3 and which is formed by inner wall 16, outer wall 18 and transverse wall 20 integrally connected therebetween that maintains the inner and outer walls in spaced relation. In the particular form shown, the inner wall 16 is reversely bent along the upper edge thereof to provide a belt loop 22 adapted to pass the belt 24 of the wearer and support the holster thereon. Of course, the inner wall of the outer clip can be formed to provide other conventional configurations by means of which the holster can be fastened to, and supported upon, the clothing of the wearer. The outer clip is preferably formed of spring steel or other suitable springy material including both metals and plastic compositions or alloys. If desired, the outer surfaces of the outer clip can be covered with leather or other decorative material as indicated at 26 in Figures 2 and 3. The upper portion of the free edge of outer wall 18 is bent inwardly and outwardly to form a retaining member 28 that functions to maintain the inner clip 14 within the outer clip and closed upon the revolver 30in a manner which will be explained in detail shortly. The outer clip is open both top and bottom and the butt 32 of the piston projects through the open top While the barrel 34 and cylinder 36 are retained between the walls thereof. The trigger 38 and trigger guard 40 are accessible and project from between the inner and outer walls of the outer clip.

The inner clip 14 comprises an inner section 42 pivotally attached at the lower extremity thereof to inner wall 16 of the outer clip by pin 44. A washer 46 maintains wall 16 and section 42 in spaced relation while the inner clip pivots between the closed position within the outer clip, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, to the open position of Figure 4. An outer section 48 is hingedly attached to the inner section 42 of the inner clip by hinge pin 50 which permits said outer section to open and close relative to said inner section when the inner clip is in the open or extended position of Figure 4. The hinged edges of the inner and outer sections lie adjacent the transverse wall of the outer clip as shown most clearly in Figure 3. The upper portions of both the inner and outer sections of the inner clip are arcuately curved in a complementary manner to form flaps 52 and 54 that receive and grip the cylinder of the revolver therebetween. These flaps 52 and 54 are freed along a part of the lower edges thereof from the remainder of their corresponding hinged sections by a slit 56 While the upper edges are bent toward one another to provide stops 58 that engage the cylinder and prevent the revolver from being drawn through the open top of the holster. The free side edges of flaps 52 and 54 are turned away from one another as shown at 60 to permit passage of the revolver cylinder into and out of a position between said flaps. The sections of other material which will not scratch or damage the revolver. The flaps are located on the inner clip in position opposite the retaining member 28 of the outer clip. Thus, when the flaps are in engagement with the cylinder of the revolver, they must contact the retaining member and spread the inner and outer walls of the outer clip apart before the inner clip can be pivoted between open and closed positions.

In the closed position of Figures 1 through 3, inclusive, the revolver cannot be withdrawn through the upper open ends of the inner and outer clips because the outer spring clip closes the hinged sections of the inner clip upon the cylinder and the bent portions 58 on the upper edges of the flaps provide stops. Also, as is well known, a revolver cannot be fired unless the cylinder is free to turn when the trigger is pulled to position the shell in front of the firing pin. The outer spring clip, however, squeezes the cylinder between the hinged sections of the inner clip and prevents it from turning even when the trigger is pulled thus providing a safety feature apart from the gun safety. In order to draw the revolver, the butt is grasped in the palm of the hand and pushed downwardly to pivot the inner clip from between the walls of the outer clip which spring apart to release it. Once the inner clip has been released from between the walls of the outer clip, the hinged sections are free to open and release the revolver for action. To placethe revolver in the holster, it is first positioned between the hinged sections with the inner clip open, then the inner clip is pivoted into position between the walls of the outer clip.

With reference to Figures 5 through 8, inclusive, a slightly modified form of the holster of the present invention especially designed for automatic pistols will now be described. The outer clip 12a includes inner and outer walls 16a and 18a, respectively, interconnected by transverse wall 20a in much the same manner as the revolver holster although the shape thereof is modified Slightly to conform with the configuration of an automatic. Inner wall 16a is reversely bent to form the belt loop 220 as in the Figures 1 through 4 modification; however, the reversely bent portion 62 is unattached to the inner wall along the lower edge to form a spring clip adapted to slip over a belt or other article of clothing. The free edge of outer wall 18a of the outer clip is bent inwardly and outwardly to form retaining member 28a which functions in the same manner as the corresponding element of the revolver holster. Clip 12a is, of course, also formed of spring steel or like material.

The inner clip 14a includes inner section 42a pivotally attached to the lower extremity of inner wall 16a by pin 44 and washer 46 therebetween. The inner clip pivots between. the closed position of Figure 5 and the open position of Figure 8 as before. An outer section 48a is hingedly connected to the inner section 42a of the inner clip by hinge pin 50a which allows the sections of the inner; clip to open when released from between the walls of,"v the outer clip. The inner and outer sections of the inner clip are shaped to conform with the slide 64 of the automatic and are. leather lined as indicated at 66a. The side edge of outer section 48a is turned inwardly to provide lowerflap 68 and central flap 70 which engage the. slide 64. and hold the automatic between the sections ofthe inner clip when in closed position. The side edge of-the, inner section is turned outwardly to provide stop 72v which passes into the opening in the trigger guard 40a. ahead of the trigger 38a and prevents the automatic from. being lifted upwardly out of the holster when the inner clip is in the closed position of Figures 5 and 7.

Thus the inner clip must be released from between the walls of the outer clip so that the hinged sections can open before the automatic can be taken from the holster. The outer clip squeezes the sections of the inner clip against the sides of the slide thereby preventing the gun from being fired while within the holster as the slide is prevented from moving rearwardly relative to the butt 32a which is necessary to eject the spent shell case. Thus an additional safety is provided apart from the gun safety. The manner of drawing and replacing the automatic in the holster is the same as has already been described in connection with the revolver holster.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the quick-draw holster of the present invention, it will be seen that the many useful objects for which it was designed have been achieved. Although the invention has been described in connection with the two specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I realize that certain modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching found herein; hence, it is my intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A holster comprising a hinged clip having two sections interconnected by a hinge along the forward edge thereof, said sections being formed to receive a pistol therebetween, a spring clip having side walls interconnected by a transverse wall to form a channel, one side wall being pivotally interconnected to one section of the hinged clip between adjacent lower edges thereof, the hinged clip being movable between an open position in which the sections lie outside the channel and are free to spread apart to release a pistol placed therebetween, and a closed position in which the sections are within the channel and squeezed between the sidewalls of the spring clip to maintain the pistol within the holster.

2. A holster as set forth in claim 1 in which the sections of the hinged clip are provided with complementary arcuate portions curved and positioned to engage the cylinder of a revolver and prevent rotation thereof when the hinged clip is in closed position between the side walls of the spring clip.

3. A holster as set forth in claim 1 in which the sections of the hinged clip are provided with opposed portions positioned to engage the slide of an automatic and prevent reciprocal movement thereof when the hinged clip is in closed position between the side walls of the spring clip.

4. A holster as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one section of the hinged clip is provided with a bent portion located to engage a pistol within the hinged clip in closed position and prevent withdrawal of the pistolin a direction substantially parallel to the hinged connection between the sections.

5. A holster as set forth in claim 1 in which the sections of the hinged clipare leather-lined.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,781 Parrish Jan. 4, 1916 1,768,177 Wanee June 24, 1930 2,387,900 Hartwell Oct. 30, 1945 2,577,869 Adams Dec; 11, 1951 

